Affordability requires Assembly accountability

(City and Borough of Juneau photo)

By Paulette Simpson

Recently, current and former members of the Juneau Assembly have spoken out against the two “affordability” ballot measures on the October ballot. It’s no surprise — they helped shape the policies and priorities that paved the way for Juneau’s growing unaffordability.  

One writer acknowledged that Juneau has many problems, but he is confident they can be fixed if we keep handing over as much money as the Assembly insists it needs. He offers no evidence that progress is being made.  

It’s a reasonable expectation that we elect Assembly members to solve community problems, not just throw money at them. 

Juneau’s problems are not new.  We’ve been at this for a very long time. 

Housing:   In 2006, the city established the Juneau Affordable Housing Commission and, in 2010, the Juneau Affordable Housing Fund. Since 2022, $12,050,000 has been awarded in grants and loans on 13 projects for 377 “affordable housing” units. To date, just 42 “affordable” units have been completed.  https://juneau.org/community-development/grants-juneau-affordable-housing-fund. Recent (2025) presentations by Rain Coast Data confirm that a chronic lack of housing remains Juneau’s primary economic limitation.  

Homelessness: In January 2015, a “Project Homeless Connect” count identified approximately 200 homeless individuals in the capital city. The January 2025 “Alaska Homeless Management Information System” count reported 371 people experiencing homelessness in Juneau. 

Sluggish Growth/School Enrollment: In 1999, Juneau’s school enrollment peaked at 5,701 students.  It’s been declining ever since. In the spring of 2024, our student count stood at 4,082. Today it’s 3,923, down another 159 students. 

Cost of Living: In 2011, the Juneau Economic Development Council (JEDC) reported that overall, Juneau had the highest cost of living among four selected Alaska communities, the others being Anchorage, Fairbanks and Kodiak. Fourteen years later, that hasn’t changed.  

We’re supposed to be building a durable, not disappearing middle class. To do that we need reasonable taxation and prudent spending, along with a growing economy to keep Juneau affordable. 

Our Assembly outsources economic development to the JEDC — a grant of about a half million dollars annually. The expectation is an expanded economy, not just an annual report detailing Juneau’s continued high cost-of-living, outmigration, aging population, and lack of affordable housing and childcare.

The Assembly gives $2.5 million to the Juneau Community Foundation for social service grants to local nonprofits who provide services to address issues like homelessness and substance abuse. 

When public funds are laundered through non-profit or non-governmental organizations, responsibility for results cannot be washed away.  Everyone working for government or spending government money is accountable to the people paying the taxes that fund those grants. 

The Juneau Arts and Humanities Council also receives funding from the city. Some of that arts funding supports the equitable introduction of local students to theater and the symphony — a good use of public money. But giving grants to individuals to create original art and advance their careers seems tone deaf, especially in light of a water and wastewater bill that’s risen to $161.85 monthly.

Throughout history artists have been supported by private patrons.  Perhaps Juneau’s philanthropists could do something similar for our modern-day creators.

In spite of our Assembly’s disappointing record of delivering solutions to community problems, for years Juneau residents have dutifully shown up at the polls to pass sales tax extensions for general services and to approve bond issues — for schools, a new police station, a Valley pool and Valley library.  

What’s different now is that last year, Juneau rather jarringly was forced to close schools. So, while in the past homeowners routinely paid their taxes without question or pause, now, people are paying attention.

Voters also take notice when projects they rejected, like City Hall and a new performing arts center, move forward anyway.  Homeowners wince when utility bills increase 5% annually through 2029 and homeless tents proliferate along Teal Street. 

The outcome of the “affordability” ballot measures will either validate the status quo or force a reset.  

Voting “yes, yes, no” will send a message to the Assembly and its partners that, in spite of good intentions, countless studies, and massive amounts of public money poured into old problems, it’s time for new strategies and more oversight.  

Accountability and responsiveness are hallmarks of good governance.  

Juneau, it’s time.

• Paulette Simpson lives in Douglas.